TWiP Family 047: Yan Palmer on Finding Your Voice

On this week’s episode, I talk with photographer, teacher and mother, Yan Palmer. Unlike many family photographers who pick up a camera to document their quickly growing child, Yan didn’t take many photos of her first child. She didn’t pick up a camera until she decided she needed to earn money for her family. Then she said, “I did everything wrong.” As time passed, she caught the photography bug. She learned all she could first from a photography forum. Then she broke away from that forum and found her own voice as a photographer.

Yan shares her story of having a blog post she wrote about struggling as a photographer go viral. There were negative reactions to her post. “Stop whining! Be professional!” And, photographers all over the US reached out to her and said, “Come photograph my family.” Yan will never forget the way a community of photographers reached out to her.

Now, Yan Palmer uses film for her photography and loves to experiment with light, motion and composition. She wants to make photos that make her feel something. She also teaches workshops for family photographers.

Do you have a family photograph question? A guest suggestion or a topic you’d love to hear on the show? Email me: jenny@twip.pro

This year I’m doing a 365 Project: taking a sharing a photo from every day of 2016. You can see my project and the projects of other TWiP Family listeners on Flickr in the TWiP Family 365 Project 2016 group. We’d love to have you join us there. It’s never too late.

If you are considering a new camera and want to try it before you buy or have a special event to photograph, go to Lens Pro To Go. (Hear my conversations with Paul Friedman from Lens Pro to Go on Episode 42 and Episode 46) Use the code TWiP10 for 10% off your rental.

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Jenny, I’m recently discovered your TWIP show and I’m in love with it! I am a TWIP listener since 2014 and never realized that were other shows! Doh! I started as a full time photographer in 2014 and I’m still studying and struggling to find my voice. I did not listen to this show until the end, but Yan Palmer’s photos are in the direction that I want to follow. Thanks for sharing with us! And now, back to the podcast!